Bearing



l A. KINGSBURY;

,BEARING' lAPFLIC'ATION FILED FEB. 26. 1916.

2 sHEETs- 2.

"l J SQ W7 Y l Z z llll-llllllilll 'Patented Deo. 92o.

UNIT'ED STATES PATENTQoFFl-CE.

ALBERT KINGSBURY; or PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA. i

BEARING.

To allwhom t may concern: v

Be it knownthat I, ALBERT KINGSBURY, a citizenof the vUnited States, and a resident of Pittsburgh, Allegheny county, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Bearings, of` which the following is a specification, referf ence being had to the accompanying drawin, forming a part thereof. l

y invention relates` generically'to bearings of various types 'which comprise a se.- ries of tiltab'ly mounted bearing segments or shoes; but it has speciall reference to thrust bearings Afor vertical, horizontal or inclined shafts, particularly such as are designedto carry heavy loads, or operate under usually severe conditions.

One object of my invention is to provide a simple and durable bearing of thetcharf acter above indicated which comprises a relat'vely small number of different parts and iizhich provides for` the automatic equali- Zation or equitable distribution of the pressure upon the several bearing lsegments or shoes.

Another' object of my invention is to pro vide a subdivided but substantially continuous equalizing structure which is both circumferentially and radially flexible.

Another object of my invention is to provide an equalizing structure made up of rocking or tiltable interrelated elements whereby said'structure is circumferentially flexible.

Another object of my invention is to'provide an .equalizing structure which is made up of a conjoined series of interengaged and mutually tiltable elements which can yield both longitudinally and transversely and thereby permit the structure, as a whole, to flex either circumferentially or radially with respect to the axis of the bearing.

Yet another object of'my invention is to' provide improved mounting means for the bearing segments or shoes whereby radial tilting thereof is facilitated. 7

Still another object of-myinvention isuto provide a vmountingfor the bearingv segments orshoes. which-'occupies but a relatively smalllspace in an axial direction and' which is radially fleXiblevt-o provide for lo cal tiltin`g of the bearing vsegments in radial planes to compensatel for virregularity or distortion of the bearing surfaces.

Yet another object ofhmy invention is to provide a flexible equalizing structure the I v Specification of Letters 'atent. Patented Dec, '7, 1920. Applieati ri-'glled February 26, '1916. `Serial No. 80,569. i

. component parts .of which koffer but a minimum of opposition to the movements which effect automatic distribution of the bearing pressure. l

Another object of my invention is to, provide for the ready adjustment of the plane of bearing engagement without interfering with the aforesaid equalization.

Still another object of my invention is to provide' for the ready removal and replacement of one or more of, the bearing lsegments or shoes or of one or more ofthe members ofthev equalizing structure.

@ther objects and advantages of' my in'- vention will be setforth hereinafter, and in order that my invention may bethoroughly v understood I will now proceed t0 describe'` the same in the following specification and then point out ntlie novel features thereof in appended claims. Theinvntion, however, is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions, two of which are shown on the accompanyingvdrawings, and it is to be expressly understood" that. the drawings are for purposes of illustration -only andare j not to be`.construed asa definition of the limits of the invention; reference being had j to the appended claims for that purpose.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l iisa sectional elevation of 'a bear-v' ing arranged and constructed in accerdan'ce Fig 3 v,1s ,a partial elevation showing .the

equalizing members in detail.

Fig. ais a partial plan view of the equalizing members andA showing particularly the form of the annular base in which the equalizing members aremounted. Y

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation drawn to a a larger scale showing a development into a single plane of a plurality of'shoes and the coperatingmembers of the equalizing support. j

The equalizing Amembers are shown in detail in Figs. 6 and 7.

Another embodiment of the present invention is shown4 in Fig. 8, which corresponds to` Fig. 5, one of the upper members'beingl" shown in plan in. Fig. 9.

In the structure illustrated, 10 designates a stationary foundation having an opening 11 through which'a vertical shaft 12 extends.v

A thrust block 13 isattached to the shaftv near its upper end and overhangs an annular base 14 and this base is secured to the foun-l dation 10 by bolts 15 or other suitable means.

The base 14 in the form shown is composed of a sleeve 16 having` two outwardly.

- gether as to break 'into each other. Said rection.

sockets may be alternately of greater and less depth, the deeper ones being designated.v

20 andthe shallower ones 21.

As clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4, there are slots or openings 22 through the annular projection 17 to provide for the circulation of lubricant as hereinafter explained.

Disposed in the annular recess of. the projection 17 and held in position by the sockets QO'and 21 area plurality of similar equalizing members or blocks 23 arranged in two sets. Each block has a bead or flange 24 and a Ispherically curved projection or button 26.

The blocks of one set are mounted in the sockets 2O upon their spherically curved projections 26 which constitute pivotal supports. The blocks of the other set are loosely supported in the sockets 21, each block being inverted and mounted on a'pair of the lower blocks with their beads 24 in engagement, as clearly shown in Figs. 3, 4t and 5a i The blocks 23 coperate so as to form with one another what may be termed lapped joints and constitute a flexible equalizing ring structure which is relatively thin and occupies a very small space inan axial'di- Therefore theaxial dimension of the entire bearing is materially reduced by utilizing my invention and thus a very important saving is accomplished. This is, particularly valuable as lappliedt` ahori- Zontal or inclined shaft thriist bearing' as used for example with the propeller Lshaft of a ship. 7

The spherically curved buttons 2G of the upper blocks or plates 23 face upwardly, and constitute pivotal supports for a'pluralit'y of bearing members or shoes 27.

The'blocks Ht loosely into the sockets of the base so that a considerable freedomfof movement is permitted for each, b'lock.vr At theA same time their relative positions' are maintained by the base sockets. The shoes are held loosely in position between the sleeve portion 16 of the base and a removable guard ring 28 which may be made 1n sections and secured by bolts 29 or other suitable means to the base 14. f

The bolts 29 may serve also as a means for holding in position keys 30 which extend the shaft and its attached parts bymerely radiallyY inward between the shoes' 27 and thereby prevent the rotation of the shoes.

Seated0 upon the thrust block 13 is a collar 31-which rotates with the thrust block and has a bearing .surface 32 with which. thel bearing segments or shoes 27 cooperate. One or more dowel pins 33, or other suitable means, is provided for insuring the rotation of the collar.

423, around the shoes 27 and outwardly between the shoes, the oil for lubricating the bearing being wedged between the bearing segments or shoes and the bearing surface 32 of the thrust collar 31 in accordance with the principles of my' bearings.

I prefer to provide a pluralityv of screws 36 corresponding in number to the lower blocks or plates 23, each of said screws having a flat end surface 37 which forms a base for one of said lower blocks, and a plurality of screws 38 corresponding in number to the upper blocks or plates 23, each of said screws being directly under one of said upper blocks.

The screws 36 extend through tapped' holes inthe annular base projection 17 and constitute means for adjusting the level ofthe lower blocks 23 to determine the location of the plane of the bearing surfaces.

The screws 38, however, are not intended to `sufficiently to perform their function of equalizing or equitably distributing the load pressure upon the several bearing segments or shoes. In the form shown, the blocks are of such form and size that there are four places of contact between one of the upper' blocks and the two lower blocks on which it rests. These places or points of contact are so located that they form a trapezoid within which llies the point of pivotal support for the corresponding bearing segment or shoe.

'f Special attention is directed tothe fact that one or all of the vlower blocks may be raised or lowered to adjust the position of turning one or more of the screws'36.

As already indicated, the screws 38 have',

under normal condition, no contact with the 'blocks, but they may beemployed to take vthe load from the lower blocks when it is desired to remove one or more shoes for Y inspection or repair. Fair example, the

screws 38 under all but one of the shoes may be turnedso as to take the load from the remaining shoe, which may then be removed l0 as soon as the sleeve 28, which is preferably made in sections, vis out of the way. rlhe sleeve 28, however, may be made in one piece if desired provided it is arranged for endwise removal.

v It will be observedv that the annular'ly arranged system of overlapping and interbearing blocks or members 23 constitute in effect a substantially continuous flexible equalizing ring which cannot only bend or flex longitudinally to provide for an equal pressure engagement between the bearing segments or shoes 27 `and the collar 31, but can also flex or twist transversely or radially-on the pivl@etal -supports 26 for the lower blocks 23e- 25 and therebyl permit Athe bearing segmentsor shoes to tilt in radial planes independently of any movement between the said segments or shoes and the upperv row of blocks 23. The upper row of supports 26 may therefore "30 be made either of the form shown in Figa 1, 2, 3', 4 and 7--where the upper and lower blocks are, for the purpose of simplicity and ease of manufacture, made exactly alike-or may be made in the form of narrow transverse ribs-as indicated at'26a in Figs. 8

and 9,-which will afford a broader Contact ,engagement between the equallzer blocks or plates and the bearing segments or shoes.

In such case. the bearing segments or shoes are still tiltingly mounted in the `sense just described.

In either case,4 the bearing segments or shoes may tilt circumferentially ofthe bearing to form wedge-shaped oil films in accordance with the principles of my bearings;

In lall of the embodiments of my'invention the successive bearing segments or shoesare operatively conjoined, to form an interrelated series, the ring of flexibly interrelated or'conjoined members or blocks 23;

and, owing tothe radial flexibility of said ring 'and the annularly arranged i pivotal supporting means composed of the projections 26, local tilting ofthe bearing seg-A ments in radial planes is permitted, as well as'circumferential tiltingof said segments,

to accommodate irregularity ordistortion i of the bearing members in accordance with the principles of my bearings; furthermore,

in the arrangement of Figs.' lto 7, the bearing segments may also tilt radially withrespect to said flexible ring.

` It will also be observed 'equalizing ring opposes but a minimum of opposition to the movement of itsv parts vto annularly arranged blocks pivotally mounted members, .and bearing.. members on said that the flexible perform its equalizing function, because each of said parts may rock or tilt freely on the pivotal support provided therefor.

While the -invention has been shown as embodied in a bearing for a vertical shaft, 4 it is to be expressly understood that the in vention is not limited thereto. Various changes may 'also be made in theconstruction and form of the projections 26 to pro-v vide for circumferential tilting or both circumferential and radial tilting, as well as in the manner of flexibly conjoining lthe ends of the blocks 23 so as to obtainasubstantially continuous flexible equalizer supl port, without departing from the spirit of 80 my invention. Various embodiments of my invention will suggest themselves tothose skilled in the art, as the same is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical e`xpres' sions, while features thereof may be used without other features thereof. Reference44 i, is therefore to be had to the claimshereto@v appended for a definition of the limits of*4 my invention.

lVhat I claimis: y 1 A bearing comprising a pivotally mounted and radially or transversely flexi ble equalizing ring and bearing members. tiltably supported by the said ring. l l2. A bearing comprising a base, a laterally flexible equalizing'ring pivotally mount'- edvthereon, and bearing shoes tiltably supported by said ring. v

3. A bearing comprising a base, a laterally flexible ring member pivotally mounted thereon, and bearing shoes concentrically arranged on the opposite side of the ring `and tilt'ingly supportedthereby.

4L. A bearing comprising al base, a series of thereon, a second series ofblocks bridging the ends of the first series,the two series constituting a substantially continuous laterally and circumferentially flexible equalizing member, and, bearing shoes tiltably sup ported by the said member.

5. In a bearing the combination of an equalizer comprising tiltably mounted members and bridging members each mounted upon and bridging the space between a pair oftiltable members, and bearing means mounted on the bridging members.

6.A bearing comprising a base having an annular recessformed to provide la plurality of sockets, equalizing members tilt# ably mounted in alternate sockets, members in the remaining sockets bridging and conjoin-ing each pair of vadjacent equalizing bridging members.

7. A bearing comprising a base having an Aannular recess formed to provide a plurality of sockets, equalizing members tiltably mounted in alternate sockets,- members in the remaining sockets bridging and conlsotermining the position of each of said equalizing members.

9. A bearing comprising` a base, equalizing members tiltably mounted on said base, members bridging and conjoining each pair of adjacent equa'lizing members, bearing members tiltably mounted on said bridging members, adjustable members foi' vdetermining the position of each of said equalizing members, and means for lifting the bridg-v ing members off of the equalizing members.

10. A bearing comprising a base, equalizing members tiltably mounted thereon, members bridging and conjoining each pair of adjacent equalizing members, bearing mem'- bers tiltably mounted on said bridging membe'rs, and means for lifting said bridging members off of the equalizing members.

- 11. A bearing 'comprising a pivotally- `mounted circumferentially flexible equalizing ring, and bearing members' tiltably =mounted on said ring.

12. In a bearing the vcombination of a base, a series of bearing segments, and a substantially ycontinuous flexible equalizing structure of interrelated and conjoined members, interposed between the base and the bearing segments and adapted to yield both circumferentially and radially.

13. A bearing comprising in combination a base, a plurality of bearing shoes, and an interposed sub-divided flexible ring member adapted to yield or flex both longitudinally and transversely of its length or circumference.

14. A bearing comprising in combination a bearing member, an annularly arranged plurality of bearing segments in engagement therewith, a support for the bearing segments, and a flexible equalizing structure comprising inter-related tiltable members interposed between said support'and saidv segments and adapted to establish and maintain a substantially uniform pressure engagement between the surfaces of the bear-` ing member and the bearing segments substantially as described.

15. In a bearing thecombination of relatively fixed and rotatable-members, a plurality of annularly arranged shoes mounted on one of said members and a flexible, substantially continuous sub-divided equalizing structure linterposed between the shoes and the latter member and arranged to support the shoes in substantially uniform bearing engagement with the other member.'

16. In a bearing the combination of a series of beaiing shoes and a `shoe supporting member comprising a substantially continuoul equalizing' structure capable of flexing both-longitudinally or circumferentially and transversely or radially and permitting the supported shoes to move endivise of the bearing and also tilt radially with respect thereto.

17 In a. thrust bearing the combination of an annularly arranged set ofl bearing shoes and a. pivotally-mounted transversely flexible ring support which carries the shoes and permits them to tilt radially by reason of the lateral or'transverse flexibility of the ring. I

18. A thrust bearing comprising relatively rotatable annular bearing members in contact with one anotlieigand a laterally flexible ring support for one of said members, the said ring being pivotally mounted on a base and arranged to permit different circumferential portions of the associated bearing member to tilt radially with respect to the other member.

19. A thrust bearing having relatively rotatable bearing members in contact with each other, one of said members comprising a plurality of bearing shoes, and flexiblemounting means, having relatively narrow annular supporting means, for said shoes s o arranged as to permit them to tilt in radial planes. 'j

20. A thrust bearing comprising abearing member having an annular thrust surface, al coperating bearing member comprising a'pluralitylof tiltable bearing. segments, and means for distributing the pressure ovei the several segments, the said means comprising 'a flexible sub-divided ring 'which occupies a relatively small space in an axial direction.

21. Ina bearing, a longitudinally flexible 'A vequalizing structure composed of overlapping members mounted to tilt circumferentially of the bearing.

22. A thrust bearing comprising a bearing member having an annular thrust surface, a coperating bearing member comprising a plurality of shoes, and means for distributing the pressure over the several shoes, the said means comprisinga plurality of circumferentially conjoined sections adapted to tilt relatively to each other.

23. An lequalizing structure for bearings comprising an annular channel, a plurality of equalizing plates tiltably mounted in the channel and held against rotation therein,

and bridging plates mounted on the equalizing plates and adapted to support `bearing shoes. j

24. In a bearing, the combination of a plurality of bearing members and a ring support, transversely flexible as a unit, on

Which said bearing members are mounted,

said ring support permitting -radial tilting of said bearing'members by reason of said 4transverseflexibility of said ring.

25. A bearing comprisiiig a thrust collar, cooperating bearing means comprising a Iplurality of relatively movable members, a

supporting pivot block for each of said movable members, and a plurality of tiltably mounted equalizers, eachl of said supporting pivot blocks being. mountedupon and bridging the space between a -pair of said e ualizers.

26. thrust 'bearing comprising relatively rotatable coperating annular bearing means, one of said means beingvadapted to flex radially, and a pivotallymounted ring Ashaped ,flexible equalizer for vsupporting said flexible bearing means so as to permit the radial flexure thereof.

27. A' thrust bearingA lcomprising relatively rotating annular bearing members in contact with one another and receiving the end thrust of the shaft one from the other,

' one of said bearing members comprising a flexible mounting `ring which -occupies .a relatively-small space in an axial direction, and annularly arranged pivotal supporting means therefor associated with said latter bearing member and permitting local tilting thereof in'radial planes.

E28. A thrust bearing comprising bear- 'ing member rotating with'the shaft, a stationary bearing member receivingv the end thrust of the shaft on said rotating member, one of said bearing members comprising a plurality of annularly arranged bearing segments, means flexibly mountingsaid segments, and annuallyarranged support- Aing means therefor associated .with said latter bearing member and permitting -said segments to tilt in radial planes to accommodate irregularity of the bearing members.

29. A thrustbearing comprising a bearing member rotating with the shaft, a stationary annular bearing member receiving the end thrust of the shaft on said rotating member and itself comprising a plurality of bearing. segments and a radially flexible` ring supporting the same, and relatively narrow annular supporting means for said annular bearing member so arranged as tov permit said segments to tilt in radial planes.

30. thrust bearing comprising a bearing member lrotating with the shaft, a stationary annular bearing member receiving the end thrust of the' shaft on said rotating member and itself comprising a flexible ring and a plurality of bearing segments mounted on saidring, and annularly arranged supporting means for said annular bearing member permitting said -segments to tilt in radial" planes.- 4

31. bearing comprising a base, a series of members pivotally mounted thereon, a

second of members bridging the ends of the -first series, the two series constituting a substantially continuous flexible equalizing member, and bearing members mounted on said e ualizing member;

`32; bearing comprising a base, a series of members pivotally mounted thereon, -a second series of members bridging the ends of the first series, the two series constituting a substantially continuous flexible edualizing member, and a bearing member mounted on. each of said bridging members.

33. In a bearing the combinationv of bearing members, and an equalizing structure for said bearing members comprising a plurality of circumferentially tiltable members and a plurality of members bridging the space between adjacent tiltable members and tiltable therewith.

34. A bearing comprising a base, an equalizing structure .composed of members tiltlably4 mounted on said base and members bridging the space between adj acenttiltable members and tiltable therewith, and bearing members mounted on said bridging'members/ to tilt circumferentially. .f

35. A bearing comprising a base, an equalizing structure composed-of members tiltably mounted on said base and members bridging the space between adjacent tiltablel members and tiltable therewith, and bearing members. mounted on said bridging members to tilt both circumferentially and radially.

36. In a bearing the combination of bearing members, and an'equalizing structure for said bearing members comprising a plurality of circumferentiallytiltable members and a plurality of members bridging the space be- ,the shaft on said rotating member, one of said bearing members comprising a pluralityof bearing segments, a radially flexible ring on which'said bearing segments are mounted,

and relatively-narrow annularly arranged supporting means intermediate the width of said ring for permitting said bearing segments to tilt locally in radial planes.

39. In a bearing, the combinationof a base, a series of bearing segments, and a lonlgitudinally flexible equalizing structure interrelated tiltable'- members interposed be-.

tween said base and bearing segments.

40; Ina bearing, a longitudinally flexible equalizing structure composediof overlapping members mounted to tiltcircumfereniis tially of the bearing, and bearing members tiltably mounted on said equalizing structure. f

4l. I na bearing, a longitudinally ,flexible equalizing structure composed of overlap? rocking members,-and bearing segments mounted on. said bridging members.

45. In a bearing, in combination with a base and a plurality of bearing segments, a flexible ring intermediate said base and bearing segments, means intermediate said ring and segments whereby said segments are mounted to tilt, and means intermediate said 'base and ring whereby the'sections of said ring are mounted to flex with respect to each other.

4G.` In a bearing, the combination with a base and a plurality ot' bearing segments, ot a flexible ringintermediate said b'ase and bearing segments, the said ring being composed of a plurality ot' relatiYely-tiltable interrelated sections.

47. In abearing, the combination with a base and a plurality ot bearing segments, of a flexibley ring intermediate said base and bearing segments, the said ring being composed ot' a plurality ot interrelated sections, and means mounting said ring whereby said sections may tilt with respect'to each other.

and bearingl members i 48. In a bearing, the combination with a base, and a plurality ot bearing segments, of a flexible ring intermediate said base and bearing'se'gments,'t ke said ring being composed of a plurality of interrelated sections, means intermediate said ring` and segments whereby said segments may tilt with. respect to each other, and means mounting-said ring whereby said sections may tilt with respect to each other.

49. In a bearing, the combination of a base, a series of bearing segments, and a substantially continuous flexible equalizing structure of;,interrelated and conjoined members interposed between said base and the bearing segments and adapted toyield cireumferentially with respect thereto.

50. In a bearing, the combination of a base, a pluralityot equalizing members tiltably mounted on said base, a plurality ot bearing segments, and means for tiltably supporting said bearing segments from adjacent ends of eat-h pair ot the said equalizi-ng members.

,51. In a bearing, the combinationv or" relatively'rotatable bearing members comprising y a plurality ot bearing segments and a pivotally-mounted flexible equalizin'g structure for equitably distributing.the bearing pressure on said segments.

In a bearing, the combination of rela- 'tively rotatable bearing members comprising a plurality ot bearing segments, and a pivotally-mounted flexible equalizi'ng structure Jfor equitably distributing the bearing pressure on said segments, the said segments being mounted on said equalizing structure to tilt both radially and circumterentially ot the axis of the bearing.

In witness whereof,l I have hereunto set my hau-d this 16th day ot February, 1916.

ALBERT KINGSBURY. Witness EMMA LEA MONTGOMERY.v 

